Kolkata court grants ₹2,000 bond bail to Bangla Pokkho founder Garga Chatterjee in poll code case

Garga Chatterjee, founder of Bangla Pokkho, was granted interim bail by a Kolkata court on Friday, 10 days after his arrest in connection with alleged provocative remarks and rumours surrounding Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) during the Assembly elections.

The Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) court in Kolkata allowed his bail on a bond of ₹2,000.

Chatterjee had been arrested on May 12 by the cyber crime wing of Kolkata Police following allegations that his social media posts on EVM functioning violated the Model Code of Conduct and provisions of cyber law during the election process.

During the election period, the Bangla Pokkho founder publicly questioned how EVMs could malfunction during counting despite being sealed and secured overnight.

He had also urged voters to carefully verify the VVPAT slips before exiting polling booths after casting their votes.

The controversy escalated after the Election Commission of India (ECI) lodged a complaint over his posts at Maidan Police Station.

The matter was subsequently transferred to Kolkata Police’s cybercrime division for investigation.

Investigators alleged that Chatterjee’s remarks had the potential to spread misinformation and create confusion in the electoral atmosphere.

Bangla Pokkho had also accused the ECI of denying permission for one of its rallies ahead of the elections, further intensifying the confrontation between the organisation and poll authorities.

The court’s decision to grant interim bail came 10 days after Chatterjee’s arrest, even as the investigation into the case continues.